Telethon raises over $2 million for Children’s Hospital

The Children's Miracle Network team at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, including mascot Champ.

The annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Telethon raised more than $2 million on June 1. All proceeds benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital.

Every spring, WTVF-NewsChannel 5 partners with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to highlight inspiring stories from patients and families at Children’s Hospital. The telethon also features on-air personalities and interviews with Children’s Hospital officials, faculty and staff. Viewers made donation pledges via text, online and by calling the phone bank.

This year also marked the 30th anniversary of the telethon partnership between Children’s Hospital and NewsChannel 5.

The money raised goes toward the Childrens Fund, which supports the hospital’s research, specialized equipment, patient programs and other important efforts. Last year’s telethon also raised about $1.8 million.

Children’s Hospital is one of the 20 founding hospitals of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which was formed in 1983 and is the only national fundraising effort that pledges 100 percent of all locally raised money goes to local member hospitals.